Review of "Glory O'Brien's history of the future" on 'LibraryThing'
Terrific book about a girl who doesn't want to think about the future as she graduates from high school; she and her father have put off thinking about the future when her mother committed suicide, leaving her daughter a camera. With a friend, Glory drinks a concoction made from dried bat (trust me, it works even if it sounds twee and silly) and both of them can suddenly see people's past and future. The differences in their visions deepens the fragility of their friendship and Glory realizes that, while the future will have some terrible moments (thanks to a civil war), she is capable of much. I loved the feminism involved, the humanity, the way a dystopian future is hinted at in a way that provokes thought but doesn't revel in the usual forms of YA dystopian misery and youth-led self-discovery-driven rebellion, and the excellent narrative voice. Incredibly impressive on …
Terrific book about a girl who doesn't want to think about the future as she graduates from high school; she and her father have put off thinking about the future when her mother committed suicide, leaving her daughter a camera. With a friend, Glory drinks a concoction made from dried bat (trust me, it works even if it sounds twee and silly) and both of them can suddenly see people's past and future. The differences in their visions deepens the fragility of their friendship and Glory realizes that, while the future will have some terrible moments (thanks to a civil war), she is capable of much. I loved the feminism involved, the humanity, the way a dystopian future is hinted at in a way that provokes thought but doesn't revel in the usual forms of YA dystopian misery and youth-led self-discovery-driven rebellion, and the excellent narrative voice. Incredibly impressive on all levels.